No matter how dedicated you are to your job, no matter how much you love the freedom of the open road, there are still times when the M1 at 2am is the last thing you need.

Night time driving can be real strain – something many fuel card users can confirm from personal experience. Navigating our way through the glare of headlights demands an extra level of concentration just as we are at our lowest ebb physically. Fatigue is a real driver killer.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA), despite much lower levels of traffic, 40 per cent of collisions occur at night and falling asleep at the wheel – even for a few seconds – accounts for around 20 per cent of serious accidents in the UK.

To avoid becoming one of those statistics, plan your journey well in advance. Schedule regular rest stops for lengthy journeys, for example, at fuel depots or service stations – aim for at least one every two hours.

And if you do find yourself feeling tired behind the wheel, don’t ignore it and keep driving – find somewhere safe and legal to pull over, drink coffee, get some fresh air, take a nap. Just 15 minutes can make all the difference.